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County considers hiring Baker Tilly for local income‑tax and property‑value analysis
Summary
Councilors discussed paying for a Baker Tilly study to model local income‑tax options and property tax impacts tied to a large assessment change; staff said the study could cost in tiers and help forecast revenue and circuit‑breaker effects.
County staff and councilors discussed contracting with Baker Tilly (a public‑finance consulting firm) to model options for a new local income tax menu and to analyze property‑tax impacts associated with a major reassessment change. Staff said the consultant could produce two analyses: (1) an income base and distribution model showing which tax choices route revenue to county, towns, libraries or townships, and (2) a parcel‑level projection of assessed‑value and circuit‑breaker impacts tied to an upcoming reassessment (referred to in discussion as the Centerville-related assessment changes).
A county speaker explained that the analysis is needed because a new menu of local income‑tax options requires choices about which entities receive which tax slices and what the tax base will be. “We have to know, first of all, what the income is that they’re taxing,” the speaker said, and noted census‑tract methods are imperfect because mailing addresses do not always match residency.
Staff said Baker Tilly has proposed tiered pricing, roughly $15,000–$16,000 for lead analysis and a separate fee for a property‑tax projection module. The consultant also offered a strategic financial‑planning product the county could use to align capital projects and avoid double‑counting reserves, which staff framed as potentially valuable for long‑range budgeting.
Council members asked staff to obtain firm pricing and timelines and to return with contract options. No contract award or appropriation was approved at the meeting; staff said the firm has been responsive and many counties are seeking similar studies, which could affect turnaround time and cost.
Why this matters: the study would inform a local decision on whether to impose an income tax, what rate to choose, and which local governments would receive the revenue; it could also show how an assessment change would affect property‑tax revenue and circuit‑breaker credits in coming years, affecting the county’s ability to fund services.
